Railroad boxcar and movable platform stops therefor

ABSTRACT

A railroad boxcar having fixed sidewalls at each end of the car and an open central portion enclosed by movable sidewalls and rollingly mounted platforms movable from each end to the central openable portion of the car, stop means retaining each of two platforms in its respective end position or selectively holding each of the platforms in the open central portion, the stop means, including three evenly spaced stop sets in the central portion for holding each of the platforms between two of each stop sets, each stop set including a pair of laterally spaced stop structures for limiting movement of a platform in either direction, each stop structure including a pair of longitudinally spaced pivotally mounted stops recessed within the car floor and having stop plate opposed to the stop platform plate of the other stop, and clutch means on each of the stops for simultaneously moving each stop plate from an elevated platform obstructing position to a lowered unobstructing position of the platform and shaft means interconnecting the stop of one stop structure with the stop of the other stop structure for conjunctive pivoting of each stop wherein each of the interconnected stops have their stop platform plates facing in the same direction in obstructing and unobstructing platform positions.

Primary Examiner-Drayton E. Hoffman Attorneys-Hilmond O. Vogel and Wayne Morris Russell ABSTRACT: A railroad boxcar having fixed sidewalls at each end of the car and an open central portion enclosed by movable sidewalls and rollingly mounted platforms movable from each end to the central openable portion of the car, stop means retaining each of two platforms in its respective end position or selectively holding each of the platforms in the Robert R. Parmenter, Chicago, lll.; James B. Semanick, Hammond, Ind.

Appl. No. 848,391

Filed open central portion, the stop means, including three evenly spaced stop sets in the central portion for holding each of the platforms between two of eachstop sets, each stop set including a pair of laterally spaced stop structures for limiting movement of a platform in either direction,-each stop structure including a pair of longitudinally spaced pivotally mounted stops recessed within the car floor and having stop plate opposed to the stop platform plate of the other stop, and clutch means on each of the stops for simultaneously moving each stop plate from an elevated platform obstructing position to a lowered unobstructing position of the platform and shaft means interconnecting the stop of one stop structure with the stop of the other stop structure for conjunctive pivoting of each stop wherein each of the interconnected stops have their stop platform plates facing in the same direction in obstructing and unobstructing platform positions.

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RAILROAD BOXCAR AND MOVABLE PLATFORM STOPS THEREFOR SUMMARY This invention relates generally to movable lading bearing means and in particular to a railroad boxcar employing a movable lading bearing platform or dolly stop means for limiting movement of the dolly in various longitudinal positions on the floor of the car.

It is, therefore, a general object of this invention to provide for a railroad boxcar having a rollingly mounted platform positionable longitudinally of the car floor by stop means.

Another object of this invention is to provide for a railroad boxcar having floor-mounted movable platforms or dollies held in various positions longitudinally of the car by pivotal stop means which includes a plurality of floor-mounted stop structures facing both ends of the car, each stop structure including a pair of laterally spaced pivotally mounted stops each stop opposing the other stop and cammed with respect to it between upwardly platform obstructing position to lower recessed unobstructing platform position.

A further object is to provide for a pair of stop means for the movable platform means of a railroad boxcar, the stop means being pivotally connected with one another, each stop means including several pairs each of longitudinally spaced pivotal stop elements each being cammed with the other by clutch means for simultaneously raising each stop element from the raised platform obstructing position to the lowered platform unobstructing position.

Another object of this invention is to provide for such stops which are located in recessed manner within the deck and having spacing means to insure proper engagement for the clutch means.

Still another object of this invention is to provide for a pair of shafts for pivotally connecting each of the respective laterally aligned stop elements of each stop set for simultaneously raising and lowering each of the four stop elements by the operator depressing one of the stop elements for passage of the platform thereover.

Another objectof this invention is to provide for a system of stop means which locate the platform in end or center stored position or which may locate a plurality of platforms in end or central stored position for discharging lading therefrom.

, These and other objects will become apparent by reference to the following description, attached drawings and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view ofa boxcar employing the novel movable platform stop arrangement;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of such box car;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a portion of the stop arrangement;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal side elevational view of the stop arrangement;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the stop arrangement taken along line 55 of FIG. 3 and showing the stop elements in the lowered platform unobstructing position;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view similar to FIG. 5 but showing the stop elements in the raised or platform obstructing position; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the stop arrangement for the movable dolly containing boxcar.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference now to the drawings and in particular with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a railroad boxcar 1 provided with an underframe 2 mounted on trucks 2a and including a center sill 3 from which extend the end couplers 4 and a boxcar body 5 having end walls 6, a top 7 including means to carry the movable or sliding side doors 10 relative to the fixed or inner side doors 11.

The car is provided with a floor 8 in which is recessedly mounted dolly or platform supporting rails 9 over which glidingly or rollingly move end located dollies 12 and 12a by means of rollers 13 mounted on the underside of the dolly, which rollers engage the tracks or rails 9. Such an arrangement is disclosed in the allowed copending US. Pat. application, Ser. No. 694,607 of Franklin P. Adler, assignee to Pullman Incorporated, filed Dec. 29, 1967, now US. Pat. No. 3,504,636 granted Apr. 7, 1970 and hereby incorporated herein by reference.

Movable stop means 15 are recessedly mounted in the floor 8 of the railroad boxcar 1. The stop means 15 includes three pivotally mounted movable stop arrangements 16, 17 and 18 located in the center portion of the car which may be opened on both sides by movement of the sliding doors to the ends of the car. Each stop arrangement 16, 17 or 18 is mounted in a respective floor recess or opening 19 which contains a stop receiving housing or pivot mount assembly 25 including end walls 21 and 20 and sidewalls 22 and .23 and a floor 24 as well as an overhead centrally located laterally extending stop plate 26 and floor drains 27. Each stop arrangement is covered by a floor section and each recess 19 comprises a pair of Iongitudinally extending laterally spaced recess sections 19a and 19b as defined by the floor section 8a, see FIG. 7. Each platform is provided with a stop abutment 12a connected by arms 12b to the platform or dolly 12 for engagement with the stop arrangement 16, 17 or 18.

Each stop arrangement includes two stop structures 28 spaced laterally of one another, as seen best in FIGS. 1, 2 and 7. The pair of stop structures 28, 28 cooperate with one another to limit movement of the platform from the end of the car to the center, or, if the platform is located centrally in the car, prevents the platform from moving to the end, the one stop structure 28 having a pair of pivotal stop members 29 and 30 and the other stop member having a pair of pivotal stop members 31 and 32, as seen in FIG. '7. The stop member 29 is identical in construction to stop member 30 except that is is rotated and spaced longitudinally from the other but does have camming or clutch engagement with the other, as will be described below, Similarly, the stop members 31 and 32 are identical in construction but oriented 180 with respect to each other for cooperative engagement to place one another in the platform obstructing position (see FIG. 7) or the platform unobstructing position at the same time that the stop members 29 and 30 are fixedly connected with one another by a stop shaft or pivot pin 33 which extends laterally of the car. Similarly, pivotal stop members 30 and 32 are fixedly connected with one another by means of stop shaft or pivot pin 34 which extends laterally of the car, see FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6. Each pair of pivotal stop members, 29 and 30, or 31 and 32, are pivotally mounted in housing or pivot mount assembly 25 in the recessed floor section 19a or 1%. Each stop member 29 or 30 or 31 or 32 is similarly constructed to the other and consists of a housing structure 35 having a back or stop plate 36 which in the elevated platform obstructing position is generally vertical (see FIG. 6) and in the down or platform unobstructing position is in a diagonal orientation. The stop plate 36 is located at at one end of the stop member for facing and engaging with a platform and the other end of the stop member is provided with a rectangular or boxlike weighted structure or support rest 37 which has a tapered seat 38 for engaging the housing plate 24 when the stop member is normally at rest or in the platform obstructing position. The housing 35 further consists of sideplates 39 and a top limit plate 40 which engages the underside of the housing stop plate 26 when the stop member is in the platform unobstructing position, as seen in FIG. 5. The top plate 40 has an end widened or enlarged rectangular section connecting with the back plate 36 and including a drain hole 42 and has a reduced elongated head plate section 43 engage-able with the underside of the plate 26, the elongated plate section connecting with the enlarged section 41 at the juncture by fillets 44 (FIG. 7). The stop element housing 35 is also provided with a bottom plate 45.

Each stop shaft or pivot pin 33 or 34 is provided with a shaft key slot 46 at each of its ends. Each key slot has afiixed therein generally at each outer end thereof a key or rectangular elongated bar 47 (see FIGS. 4-7 and each sideplate 39 has a shaft bore 48 for receiving a respective shaft 33 or 34 therethrough and each side plate 39 has a key slot 49 in it connecting with the bore 48. A rectangular clutch plate 51, see FIGS. 3-7, is mounted fixedly on a sideplate 39 on one side of one stop member 29 and clutch plate 54 is mounted on a sideplate 39 on the same side of the laterally spaced and complemental clutchable stop member 30 whereas the sideplates on the other sides of members 29 and 30 respectively for clutch members 54 and 51 cooperate for complemental clutch engagement. This also holds true for clutchable pivotal members 31 and 32. The clutching action occurs between the respective clutching edges 52 and underside of fingers or projections 53 of clutch members 51 and 54 respectively, the stop members 31 and 32 having their respective clutch members similarly constructed and arranged. The clutch plate 51 is provided with a shaft bore 50 and a key slot 50a and the clutch plate 54 is similarly provided with a shaft bore 55a and a key slot 55 cooperative and in alignment with the respective shaft bore 48 and key slot 49 of a respective side plate 39 for receiving a respective shaft 33 or 34 therethrough wherein the keys 47 lock the sideplates 39 and clutch members 51 and 54 of each of the pivotal stop members 29, 30, 31 and 32 in such a manner that depression of the elevated portion of any of the stop members by the operators foot will cause all four stop members 29, 30, 31 and 32 to simultaneously be moved from the elevated or platform obstructing position (FIG. 6) to the lower or platform unobstructing position (FIG. whereby the platform may pass over the top of the stop members and prevent them from going to the elevated or obstructing position so long as the platform remains over the stop members. However, once the platform is past the stop members, they will automatically move to the obstructing position because the weighted structure 37 of each of the stop elements causes the stop members to rotate about the pivot shafts 33 and 34 to raise the plate 36 and seat the member 37 on the floor plate 24. Each key is of such extent only to cause cooperative locking and drive between the sideplates 39 of each of the pivotal stop members 31, 32, 33 and 34. Shaft bores 56 and 57 are provided in sides 23 and 24 (see FIG. 4) of the housing 35 and act as a bearing for the shafts 33 and 34. Alignment of the one clutch member 54 with the other clutch member 51 is insured by the spacers or washers 58 located on one side at one plate 39 of a particular pivot stop member so that camming or clutching is also insured, a respective washer 58 being adjacent a respective sidewall 22 or 23.

In assembling each of the movable stop arrangements 16, 17 or 18, first, each stop member 29, 30, 31 and 32 with their respective stop shafts 33 and 34 are assembled together and located within the recessed area 19 and then the cover plate 8a is placed thereover with the stop plates 26. The top plates 40 or each of the pivotal stop members 29, 20, 31 and 32 are placed on the housing 35 to form an integral unit after the lock keys 47 are tacked or affixed in the slots 49. In some dolly arrangements in the boxcar, it may be desirable to use two independently movable laterally spaced dollies at each end of the car in which instance the shafts 33 and 34 may be eliminated between the pivot members to provide for independent pivotal action of the members 29 and 30 with respect to the pivotal stop members 31 and 32.

As various changes could be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained on the above description or shorn in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. In a railroad boxcar having closed side end portions and open side central portions selectively closed by movable side doors:

a pair of laterally spaced platforms movable along the car floor,

each platform being locatable at a respective closed end portion of the car or in the alternative in a respective part of the open central portion adjacent the other platform,

stop means pivotally mounted in the car floor for retaining each platform in the end portion or the central portion,

said stop means including three stop structures spaced substantially equal longitudinally of the car from one another in the central portion of the car to accommodate either platform between a respective stop structure and the end of the car,

each stop structure including a pair of pivotally mounted longitudinally spaced stop units, each stop unit having outer and inner ends pivotal about a generally horizontal axis providing for swinging overlapping relation between the inner ends of the stop units, each stop unit having at the outer end a transverse platform stop member facing outwardly of each other toward a respective end of the car, each stop unit being weighted at its inner end to form a generally V-shaped stop structure with the stop member of each being elevated with respect to the inner end of each stop unit whereby the platform stop member of each stop unit is elevated above its respective inner end, each stop member in its elevated position being adapted to obstruct movement of a platform,

clutch means including clutch portions on the inner end of each stop unit such that when the stop member of one of the stop units is depressed to a lowered position at the car floor level or platform unobstructed position its clutch portion engages the clutch portion of the other stop unit to raise the inner end of the other stop unit therewith and simultaneously lower the platform stop member of the other stop unit to its car floor level or platform unobstructing position.

2. The invention according to claim 1, and

pivot means in the form of a shaft extending from each stop unit laterally thereof, a second pair of stop units each connecting with a respective shaft for pivotal movement with a respective of the first mentioned pair of stop units, each of the second stop units having their inner ends weighted down to allow their respective stop members to be in an elevated position whereby lowering of any stop members of any of the stop units lowers the other three stop members and consequently raises the inner ends of all the stop units to permit passage of the respective platform thereover.

3. The invention according to claim 2, and

each shaft having key means for keying each shaft to a pair of laterally spaced stop units attendant to conjunctive pivoting of each of the stop units.

4. The invention according to claim 1,

whereby the upper end of a respective stop member is depressible by an operator to simultaneously move the stop units from the platform obstructing position to the platform unobstructing position.

5. The invention according to claim 1, and

a stop limit engageable with the upper surfaces of the inner ends of each of the stop units to limit upper travel of the stop units upon pivoting of the stops to the platform unobstructing position.

6. In a railroad boxcar having closed side end portions and open side central portions selectively closed by movable side doors:

a pair of laterally spaced platforms movable along the car each platform being locatable at a respective closed end portion of the car or in the alternative in a respective part of the open central portion adjacent the other platform, stop means pivotally mounted in the car floor for retaining each platform in the end portion or the central portion, said stop means including three stop structures spaced substantially equal longitudinally of the car from one another in the central portion of the car to accommodate either platform between two of the stop structures or between a respective stop structure and the end of the car,

each stop structure including a pair of pivotally mounted longitudinally spaced stop units, each stop unit having a transverse platform stop member facing outwardly of each other toward a respective end of the car, each stop unit being weighted at its inner end to form a generally V- shaped stop structure with the stop member of each being elevated with respect to the inner end of each stop unit whereby the platform stop member of each stop unit is elevated above its respective inner end, each stop member in its elevated position being adapted to obstruct movement of a platform,

clutch means including clutch portions on the inner end of each stop unit such that when the stop member of one of the stop units is depressed to a lowered position at the car floor level or platform unobstructed position its clutch portion engages the clutch portion of the other stop unit to raise the inner end of the other stop unit therewith and simultaneously lower the platform stop member of the other stop unit to its car floor level or platform unobstructing portion,

each clutch portion being a clutch unit including an edge on one side of one stop unit and a projecting ledge on the other side of the stop unit, the edge of one stop unit engaging the underside of the projecting ledge of the other stop unit on each side of each stop unit.

7. The invention according to claim 6, and

spacer means on each stop unit providing the proper clutch alignment between the edges and the ledges.

8. In a railroad car,

platform means movable along the car floor,

stop means mounted on the car floor and retaining the platform in one of multiple positions along the car floor,

said stop means including a pair of pivotally mounted longitudinally spaced stops, each stop having outer and inner ends pivotal about a generally horizontal axis providing for swinging overlapping relation between the inner ends of the stops, each stop at its outer end having a transverse platform stop member facing outwardly of each other toward a respective end of the car, each stop being weighted down at its inner end to form a generally V- shaped stop structure with the stop member of each being elevated with respect to the inner end of each stop, each stop member in its elevated position being adapted to obstruct movement of the platform means,

clutch means including clutch portions on the inner end of each stop such that when the stop member of one of the stops such that when the stop member of one of the stops is depressed to a lower position at the car floor level or platform unobstructing position its clutch portion engages the clutch portion of the other stop to raise the inner end of the other stop therewith and simultaneously lowers the platform stop member of the other stop to its car floor level or platform unobstruction position.

9. in a railroad car:

platform means movable along the car floor,

stop means mounted on the car floor and retaining the platform in one ofmultiple positions along the car floor,

said stop means including a pair of pivotally mounted longitudinally spaced stops, each stop having a transverse platform stop member facing outwardly of each other toward a respective end of the car, each stop being weighted down at its inner end to form a generally V- shaped stop structure with the stop member of each being elevated with respect to the inner end of each stop whereby the platform stop member of each stop is elevated above its inner end, each stop member in its elevated position being adapted to obstruct movement of the platform means,

clutch means including clutch portions on the inner end of each stop such that when the stop member of one of the stops is depressed to a lower position at the car floor level or platform unobstructing position its clutch portion engages the clutch portion of the other stop to raise the inner end of the other stop therewith and simultaneously lowers the platform stop member of the other stop to its car floor level or platform unobstruction position,

each clutch portion being a clutch unit including an edge on one side on one stop and projecting ledge on the other side of the stop, the edge of one stop engaging the underside of the projecting ledge of the other stop on each side of each stop.

10. In a railroad car:

platform means movable along the car floor,

stop means mounted on the car floor and retaining the platform in one of multiple positions along the car floor,

said stop means including a pair of pivotally mounted longitudinally spaced stops, each stop having a transverse platform stop member facing outwardly of each other toward a respective end of the car, each stop being weighted down at its inner end to form a generally V- shaped stop structure with the stop member of each being elevated with respect to the inner end of each stop whereby the platform stop member of each stop is elevated above its inner end, each stop member in its elevated position being adapted to obstruct movement of the platform means,

clutch means including clutch portions on the inner end of each stop such that when the stop member of one of the stops is depressed to a lower position at the car floor level or platform unobstructing position its clutch portion engages the clutch portion of the other stop to raise the inner end of the other stop therewith and simultaneously lowers the platform stop member of the other stop to its car floor level or platform unobstruction position,

pivot means in the form ofa shaft extending from each stop laterally thereof, a second pair of stops each connecting with a respective shaft and each having pivotal movement with a respective of the first mentioned pair of stops, each of the second stops having their inner ends weighed down to allow their respective stop members to be in an elevated position whereby lowering of any stop member of any of the stops lowers the other three sto members and consequently raises the inner ends of all of the stops to permit the passage of the platform means thereover.

11. The invention according to claim 8, and

a stop limit engageable with the upper surfaces of the inner ends of each of the stops to limit upper travel of the stops upon pivoting of the stops to the platform unobstructing position.

12. For a floor mounted movable platform means,

pivotal stop means on the floor swingable from an elevated platform obstructing position to a lower platform unob structing position for movement of the platform,

said stop means including a pair of spaced stop members each having inner and outer ends pivotal about a generally horizontal axis providing for swinging overlapping relation between the inner ends of the stop members, the outer ends of each having a platform engaging surface extending toward the platform means, each stop member being weighted down at its inner end with the platform engaging surface of each stop member being elevated with respect to the inner end of each stop member, each platform engaging surface in its elevated position being adapted to obstruct movement of the platform means, the inner end of each of the stop members facing one another,

clutch means including clutch portions on the inner end of each stop such that when the stop member of one of the stops is depressed to a lower position at the car floor or platform unobstructing position its clutch portion engages the clutch portion of the other stop to raise the inner end of the other stop therewith and simultaneously lowers the platform stop member of the other stop to its car floor level or platform unobstruction position.

13. The invention according to claim ll2, and

a second pair of spaced stop members and pivot means in the form of interconnecting means being connected between each pair of stop members for pivotal movement of one stop member of one pair of stop members moving all of the stop members.

14. For a floor mounted movable platform means;

pivotal stop means on the floor swingable from an elevated platform obstructing position to a lower platform unobstructing position for movement of the platform,

said stop means including a pair of spaced stop members each having inner and outer ends pivotal about a generally horizontal axis providing for swinging overlapping relation between the inner ends of the stop members, the outer ends of each having platform engaging surface extending toward the platform means, the inner end of each of the stop members facing one another and having clutch means adapted to engage one another upon pivoting of either platform engaging surface of either stop member from an elevated platform obstructing position to a lowered platform unobstructing position,

a second pair of stop members each having inner and outer ends, the outer ends having platform engaging surface,

a pair of pivot shafts each connecting with one of each of the stop members of each pair of stop members,

the second pair of stop members being provided with clutching means at the inner ends of the second pair of stop members and engageable with one another for lowering the platform engaging surfaces from the elevated platform obstructing position to the lowered nonobstructing platform position whereby depression of any of the platform engaging surfaces of any of the stop members engages all of the platform engaging surfaces of all of the stop members.

15. The invention according to claim 14, and spacing means for proper alignment of the clutching means attendant to raising and lowering of the stop members between elevated and lowered positions.

t i 1F 

1. In a railroad boxcar having closed side end portions and open side central portions selectively closed by movable side doors: a pair of laterally spaced platforms movable along the car floor, each platform being locatable at a respective closed end portion of the car or in the alternative in a respective part of the open central portion adjacent the other platform, stop means pivotally mounted in the car floor for retaining each platform in the end portion or the central portion, said stop means including three stop structures spaced substantially equal longitudinally of the car from one another in the central portion of the car to accommodate either platform between a respective stop structure and the end of the car, each stop structure including a pair of pivotally mounted longitudinally spaced stop units, each stop unit having outer and inner ends pivotal about a generally horizontal axis providing for swinging overlapping relation between the inner ends of the stop units, each stop unit having at the outer end a transverse platform stop member facing outwardly of each other toward a respective end of the car, each stop unit being weighted at its inner end to form a generally V-shaped stop structure with the stop member of each being elevated with respect to the inner end of each stop unit whereby the platform stop member of each stop unit is elevated above its respective inner end, each stop member in its elevated position being adapted to obstruct movement of a platform, clutch means including clutch portions on the inner end of each stop unit such that when the stop member of one of the stop units is depressed to a lowered position at the car floor level or platform unobstructed position its clutch portion engages the clutch portion of the other stop unit to raise the inner end of the other stop unit therewith and simultaneously lower the platform stop membeR of the other stop unit to its car floor level or platform unobstructing position.
 2. The invention according to claim 1, and pivot means in the form of a shaft extending from each stop unit laterally thereof, a second pair of stop units each connecting with a respective shaft for pivotal movement with a respective of the first mentioned pair of stop units, each of the second stop units having their inner ends weighted down to allow their respective stop members to be in an elevated position whereby lowering of any stop members of any of the stop units lowers the other three stop members and consequently raises the inner ends of all the stop units to permit passage of the respective platform thereover.
 3. The invention according to claim 2, and each shaft having key means for keying each shaft to a pair of laterally spaced stop units attendant to conjunctive pivoting of each of the stop units.
 4. The invention according to claim 1, whereby the upper end of a respective stop member is depressible by an operator to simultaneously move the stop units from the platform obstructing position to the platform unobstructing position.
 5. The invention according to claim 1, and a stop limit engageable with the upper surfaces of the inner ends of each of the stop units to limit upper travel of the stop units upon pivoting of the stops to the platform unobstructing position.
 6. In a railroad boxcar having closed side end portions and open side central portions selectively closed by movable side doors: a pair of laterally spaced platforms movable along the car floor, each platform being locatable at a respective closed end portion of the car or in the alternative in a respective part of the open central portion adjacent the other platform, stop means pivotally mounted in the car floor for retaining each platform in the end portion or the central portion, said stop means including three stop structures spaced substantially equal longitudinally of the car from one another in the central portion of the car to accommodate either platform between two of the stop structures or between a respective stop structure and the end of the car, each stop structure including a pair of pivotally mounted longitudinally spaced stop units, each stop unit having a transverse platform stop member facing outwardly of each other toward a respective end of the car, each stop unit being weighted at its inner end to form a generally V-shaped stop structure with the stop member of each being elevated with respect to the inner end of each stop unit whereby the platform stop member of each stop unit is elevated above its respective inner end, each stop member in its elevated position being adapted to obstruct movement of a platform, clutch means including clutch portions on the inner end of each stop unit such that when the stop member of one of the stop units is depressed to a lowered position at the car floor level or platform unobstructed position its clutch portion engages the clutch portion of the other stop unit to raise the inner end of the other stop unit therewith and simultaneously lower the platform stop member of the other stop unit to its car floor level or platform unobstructing portion, each clutch portion being a clutch unit including an edge on one side of one stop unit and a projecting ledge on the other side of the stop unit, the edge of one stop unit engaging the underside of the projecting ledge of the other stop unit on each side of each stop unit.
 7. The invention according to claim 6, and spacer means on each stop unit providing the proper clutch alignment between the edges and the ledges.
 8. In a railroad car, platform means movable along the car floor, stop means mounted on the car floor and retaining the platform in one of multiple positions along the car floor, said stop means including a pair of pivotally mounted longitudinally spaced stops, each stop having outer and inner ends pivotaL about a generally horizontal axis providing for swinging overlapping relation between the inner ends of the stops, each stop at its outer end having a transverse platform stop member facing outwardly of each other toward a respective end of the car, each stop being weighted down at its inner end to form a generally V-shaped stop structure with the stop member of each being elevated with respect to the inner end of each stop, each stop member in its elevated position being adapted to obstruct movement of the platform means, clutch means including clutch portions on the inner end of each stop such that when the stop member of one of the stops such that when the stop member of one of the stops is depressed to a lower position at the car floor level or platform unobstructing position its clutch portion engages the clutch portion of the other stop to raise the inner end of the other stop therewith and simultaneously lowers the platform stop member of the other stop to its car floor level or platform unobstruction position.
 9. In a railroad car: platform means movable along the car floor, stop means mounted on the car floor and retaining the platform in one of multiple positions along the car floor, said stop means including a pair of pivotally mounted longitudinally spaced stops, each stop having a transverse platform stop member facing outwardly of each other toward a respective end of the car, each stop being weighted down at its inner end to form a generally V-shaped stop structure with the stop member of each being elevated with respect to the inner end of each stop whereby the platform stop member of each stop is elevated above its inner end, each stop member in its elevated position being adapted to obstruct movement of the platform means, clutch means including clutch portions on the inner end of each stop such that when the stop member of one of the stops is depressed to a lower position at the car floor level or platform unobstructing position its clutch portion engages the clutch portion of the other stop to raise the inner end of the other stop therewith and simultaneously lowers the platform stop member of the other stop to its car floor level or platform unobstruction position, each clutch portion being a clutch unit including an edge on one side on one stop and projecting ledge on the other side of the stop, the edge of one stop engaging the underside of the projecting ledge of the other stop on each side of each stop.
 10. In a railroad car: platform means movable along the car floor, stop means mounted on the car floor and retaining the platform in one of multiple positions along the car floor, said stop means including a pair of pivotally mounted longitudinally spaced stops, each stop having a transverse platform stop member facing outwardly of each other toward a respective end of the car, each stop being weighted down at its inner end to form a generally V-shaped stop structure with the stop member of each being elevated with respect to the inner end of each stop whereby the platform stop member of each stop is elevated above its inner end, each stop member in its elevated position being adapted to obstruct movement of the platform means, clutch means including clutch portions on the inner end of each stop such that when the stop member of one of the stops is depressed to a lower position at the car floor level or platform unobstructing position its clutch portion engages the clutch portion of the other stop to raise the inner end of the other stop therewith and simultaneously lowers the platform stop member of the other stop to its car floor level or platform unobstruction position, pivot means in the form of a shaft extending from each stop laterally thereof, a second pair of stops each connecting with a respective shaft and each having pivotal movement with a respective of the first mentioned pair of stops, each of the second stops having their inner ends weighed down to allow their respectiVe stop members to be in an elevated position whereby lowering of any stop member of any of the stops lowers the other three stop members and consequently raises the inner ends of all of the stops to permit the passage of the platform means thereover.
 11. The invention according to claim 8, and a stop limit engageable with the upper surfaces of the inner ends of each of the stops to limit upper travel of the stops upon pivoting of the stops to the platform unobstructing position.
 12. For a floor mounted movable platform means, pivotal stop means on the floor swingable from an elevated platform obstructing position to a lower platform unobstructing position for movement of the platform, said stop means including a pair of spaced stop members each having inner and outer ends pivotal about a generally horizontal axis providing for swinging overlapping relation between the inner ends of the stop members, the outer ends of each having a platform engaging surface extending toward the platform means, each stop member being weighted down at its inner end with the platform engaging surface of each stop member being elevated with respect to the inner end of each stop member, each platform engaging surface in its elevated position being adapted to obstruct movement of the platform means, the inner end of each of the stop members facing one another, clutch means including clutch portions on the inner end of each stop such that when the stop member of one of the stops is depressed to a lower position at the car floor or platform unobstructing position its clutch portion engages the clutch portion of the other stop to raise the inner end of the other stop therewith and simultaneously lowers the platform stop member of the other stop to its car floor level or platform unobstruction position.
 13. The invention according to claim 12, and a second pair of spaced stop members and pivot means in the form of interconnecting means being connected between each pair of stop members for pivotal movement of one stop member of one pair of stop members moving all of the stop members.
 14. For a floor mounted movable platform means; pivotal stop means on the floor swingable from an elevated platform obstructing position to a lower platform unobstructing position for movement of the platform, said stop means including a pair of spaced stop members each having inner and outer ends pivotal about a generally horizontal axis providing for swinging overlapping relation between the inner ends of the stop members, the outer ends of each having platform engaging surface extending toward the platform means, the inner end of each of the stop members facing one another and having clutch means adapted to engage one another upon pivoting of either platform engaging surface of either stop member from an elevated platform obstructing position to a lowered platform unobstructing position, a second pair of stop members each having inner and outer ends, the outer ends having platform engaging surface, a pair of pivot shafts each connecting with one of each of the stop members of each pair of stop members, the second pair of stop members being provided with clutching means at the inner ends of the second pair of stop members and engageable with one another for lowering the platform engaging surfaces from the elevated platform obstructing position to the lowered nonobstructing platform position whereby depression of any of the platform engaging surfaces of any of the stop members engages all of the platform engaging surfaces of all of the stop members.
 15. The invention according to claim 14, and spacing means for proper alignment of the clutching means attendant to raising and lowering of the stop members between elevated and lowered positions. 